The Young Couple Blamed in Massacre in San Bernardino

December 4, 2015

(SAN BERNARDINO) — As police confirmed the identities of the deceased suspects in the San Bernardino shootings overnight, new information has come to light about the young couple said to have carried out the horrible crime, especially about the 28-year-old man who witnesses say sat side-by-side with his targets just minutes before the massacre.

Syed Rizwan Farook, who for years worked at the San Bernardino County Public Health Department whose personnel appear to have been the target of Wednesday’s attack, left an online footprint mostly in the form of Muslim-oriented dating site profiles he and his parents created years ago. In one, Farook describes himself as a “health, safety and environmental inspector,” says he’s 6’0″ tall and doesn’t drink or smoke.

At that time the profile was made about six years ago, Farook claimed he was part of a “religios but modern family of 4” [sic] and that he enjoyed “doing target practice with younger sister and friends” in his back yard. He says he was born in Chicago, but in another profile indicated a Pakistani heritage.

Another profile portrayed a man trying to balance his faith and modern life.

“I try to live as a good Muslim,” Farook writes. “Looking for a girl who has the same outlook, wear hijab, but live the life to the fullest.”

On the same page, Farook preaches his love of snowboarding, camping, and working on cars, and further describes his personality as cautious, reserved, skeptical and very liberal.

ABC News also found several profiles that appeared to belong to Farook posted by his parents, eager to find their son a bride.

One profile, which was registered “to find my son/daughter a partner” [sic] list Farook as “very religious,” “Athletic,” and wanting to marry within the next year. Another gave Farook’s address, and claimed he had a Masters in Engineering. Both profiles described the shooter as “calm cool and thoughtful”.

According to Farook’s brother-in-law, Farhan Khan, Farook had recently found success in a relationship with a 27-year-old named Tashfeen Malik — a woman police later said was his accomplice in the deadly shooting. The brother-in-law said the two were married, but overnight police said they weren’t totally clear on the couple’s marital status, except that there was a relationship.

KABC-TVThe young couple had a baby, but the day of the shooting, they left it with a family member and told the relative that they had doctor appointments, Hussam Ayloush, the executive director of the Muslim rights group CAIR, told ABC News. CAIR officials appeared with Khan when he made his emotional announcement late Wednesday.

The FBI said today Malik was in the U.S. on a Pakistani passport and a K1 “Fiance” Visa, meaning Farook would have petitioned for Malik to enter the country and they were to be married within 90 days of her entry, pursuant to U.S. regulations. Officials said Farook had left the country and then returned to the U.S. with Malik in July 2014. A CAIR spokesperson told reporters late Wednesday that Malik is of Pakistani origin and had lived in Saudi Arabia.

A witness to Wednesday’s shooting, local official Chris Nwadike, told ABC News Wednesday that he happened to be sitting at the same table as Farook earlier that day at the gathering at the Inland Regional Center. Farook left the meeting and disappeared for about half an hour, before apparently showing back up with Malik and several powerful weapons.

“When I heard that name pop up, I couldn’t believe it,” Nwadike said of Farook. Nwadike happened to have gone to the bathroom when the shooting started.

Today police in San Bernardino said that Farook did not appear to have a criminal record prior to the attack. The four weapons used in the shooting, two “long guns” and two handguns, were purchased legally, but the two long guns, also described by authorities as “assault weapons,” were not purchased by Farook, authorities said.

Khan told reporters late Wednesday he didn’t understand why his brother-in-law would do it.

“I have no idea… why he would do something like this,” a visibly shocked Khan said. “I just cannot express how sad I am for what happened today.”

Police said they have not determined a motive for Wednesday’s shooting.